HIST215 Heretics, Witches, and Inquisitors

An examination of heretical movements and their persecution as well as witch-hunt
in medieval and early modern Europe (1100-1700) in the religious, social, political
and intellectual contexts.

This paper examines the rise and development of persecution in European society from
the 12th century to the 17th century. While this paper surveys various types of heretical
movements and their suppression in the Middle Ages and the witch-hunt in the early
modern period, it also explores the legal and theological contexts that shaped the
idea of heresy and inquisition and the intellectual contexts of witch-hunts, such
as the conceptions of magic and demonology. The aim of the paper is, thus, to understand
how and why a social, legal and religious system of persecution emerged and expanded
in late medieval and early modern Europe.